Gallimaufry#99

 DAY 2 — Meteora

My photos do no justice to the jaw-dropping beauty of Meteora. I simply couldn't capture the full grandeur of the  monasteries that perched atop the towering rock formations. It's a sight that must be experienced firsthand to truly appreciate its breathtaking beauty.

Here's an image I snagged from the internet that perfectly captures the sense of wonder I experienced.

Watch this drone video by Youtuber Main Stream Travel, and you will know what I mean.

Out of the six active monasteries that are open to the public, we only visited the Holy Monastery of Varlaam and the Agios Stefanos Monastery.

Climbing the 195 steps leading to the entrance of Varlaam

Almost there...

The Holy Monastery of Varlaam

Elaborate frescos adorn the ceilings and walls of the monasteries, depicting scenes from Greek Orthodox scripture.

The frescoes date back to the Byzantine era, with some of them originating from the 14th century.

This basket-and-pulley system was one of the methods used to transport people, goods, and food supplies between the monasteries and the ground below. The system was powered manually by the monks and workers who lived in the monasteries. Today, of course, there are steps, so they are easier to access.

Going down ...

These colossal rock formations are composed of a unique combination of sandstone and conglomerate rock.

An amazing shot by our tour leader

Meteora in Greek means "suspended in the air" or "in the heavens". It is said that when there is mist, the floating pinnacles of Meteora resemble the “Hallelujah Mountains” of Pandora in the film Avatar.

Thank God, the Monastery of Agios Stefanos was easy to access. We simply crossed a small bridge to reach the entrance. I couldn't possibly climb any more stairs!

This monastery, originally housed monks. It was converted to a nunnery in the 20th century. Today, there are about 28 nuns and an abbess living here.

Shrine in the courtyard of the Monastery of Agios Stefanos

Views of the rocks in Kalambaka, the foot of Meteora

We had lunch in a taverna in Kalambaka against the majestic backdrop of the towering rock pillars.

Gemista

Lamb Kleftiko

One for the album 📸